On October 7th Allison Liao, a three year old child, was killed while walking in a crosswalk, holding hands with her grandmother. Allison’s death was not a crime. The motorist was allowed to drive away from the scene and shockingly received only 2 tickets (with a maximum fine of $300) which were later dismissed.
The tickets were thrown out during the adjudication process; a process that allows drivers to dispute their responsibility in traffic incidents. This process primarily relies on the testimony of the driver.
Unbelievably, Allison Liao was killed by a driver who will not even end up paying a ticket. Her family is still grieving but also trying to use this disaster to shine a light on the unjust laws that enabled this tragedy.
Car Culture
Buying my first car as a teenager was exciting and liberating. I grew up in a place where there was very little to do within walking or biking distance. I had to drive to school, to extra curricular activities, to friends’ homes and to work. Virtually everything I did required a car. Needless to say, when I could drive, rather than relying on someone else, I felt a lot of freedom and that feeling ultimately made me fond of my car.
The feeling of opportunity is culturally connected to car ownership and driving. You can see the idea that cars help us achieve our desires in countless commercials. For example:
